Voting
by Absentee Ballot
If you are unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may
be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. To vote by absentee ballot, a voter must
request an absentee ballot application from your
County Election Official. The County Election Official will send a paper
absentee ballot to the voter. The voter then completes the ballot and returns it
to the County Election Official.
In South Dakota, the County Election Official must receive your application for
absentee ballot no later than 3 p.m. on Election Day. Make sure you are registered
before you apply to vote by absentee ballot. You can confirm your registration by
visiting the Voter Information Portal.
How to Request an Absentee Ballot
To obtain an absentee ballot application:
- Ensure you are registered to vote. If you are unsure, confirm your registration.
- Download and print an
Absentee Ballot Application (PDF) and send it to your County
Election Official.
In the event of confinement because of sickness or disability, a qualified voter
may apply in writing and obtain an absentee ballot by authorized messenger. An authorized
messenger delivers the ballot from the County Election Official to the qualified
voter and then delivers the marked ballot to the County Election Official. Any application
for a ballot by authorized messenger must be received by the person in charge of
the election before 3:00 p.m. the day of the election.